The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) started life in 1981 as a truncated parody of Hamlet performed by three fellows at Renaissance Fairs in California. They then tackled a truncated parody of Romeo and Juliet. They moved to England, called themselves The Reduced Shakespeare Company (The RSC, of course), added the rest of the Bard’s cannon (even mentioning some of the Shakespeare Apocrypha) and created an exquisitely raucous 97 minutes of theatre that is still performed worldwide in several languages. The play requires three actors trained in acting, acrobatics and/or professional clowning and improvisation.

Even simply reading the script by Adam Long, Daniel Singer and Jess Winfield (the original Reduced Shakespeare Company) can leave one breathless from laughter. Or, as it were, did leave me breathless. It was with some excitement, then, that I found a notice for a local production, by SprocketRocket Productions at Open Stage West. The press release promised “A non-stop hilarious thrill ride… performed by three actors in which props and wigs fly around…” etc. Little of that was evident at the Open Stage West last Friday night.

I was slightly dismayed when I walked into the theatre and the music playing was better suited to a sweaty gay disco at one a.m. “Good Vibrations” by Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch didn’t quite evoke the mood I expected. Okay, I thought, it’s energetic. And many theatres forget preshow music altogether, so something is better than nothing, no? That was followed by “Rock Me Sexy Jesus”, a Sting song, then a weird pastiche of more music from the seventies, eighties and nineties.

I was more dismayed when the actors began. In their bios in the program, Christopher D. Turner and Michael Heiman list training, Mr. Turner even notes a Shakespeare intensive with the RSC (I assume the Royal rather than the Reduced Shakespeare Company.) Kelly Campbell listed no such training but did thank the audience for laughing. When they started speaking actual lines from the Bard’s texts it was obvious that they had little or no connection with the poetry or meaning. They also had neither the requisite comedic nor physical chops. Much of the running around the stage they did was diffuse, much of the fighting consisted of slapping their hands together Stooge-like. By the end of the play, I was concerned there might be a medical emergency or two.

There were funny moments. Early on, Mr. Turner apologized for looking so much like a potato, and, in the final act, when he is concerned that they won’t do Hamlet justice, he is told they don’t have to do it justice, they just have to do it. Also, in a nod to current events, they compared Caliban, the monster from The Tempest, to the extreme right wing of the Republican Party, which made me laugh out loud. Okay, so I’m an unrepentant liberal.

The great actor/acting teacher Uta Hagen once said in her book “Respect for Acting” something to the effect that a young actor should not attempt to play Hamlet before he’s ready, or risk ruining it for himself for life. I am always loath to write anything that would discourage artists, especially young artists, from practicing and developing their craft. If anything I said stopped an actor from pursuing his or her chosen field I would be devastated. Can I, however, discourage these young actors from performing this particular play? At least until they understand Shakespeare’s language and get training and experience in acrobatics and/or clowning and develop their sense of timing?

All three actors do have stage presence, especially Mr. Heiman. And Ms. Kelly’s sense of quiet scorn at the others’ antics was spot on. It would be interesting to see any of these actors in almost any other play.

SprocketRocket Productions seems to be a family affair. The play was directed by A.K Stewart. The set is credited to Amanda Stewart, although it consisted simply of a black space with the backstage curtained off and a chair, which disappeared shortly after the play began. The house manager was Susan Stewart. Non-Stewarts included Tori Hershman who was stage manager, property mistress and, along with Jordan Cole, lighting design and operation. Fight Captain/Chorography (sic) is credited to actor Christopher D. Turner.

The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) opened May 22nd, is performed Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm through June 13th, 2009.

Open Stage West is located at 14366 Ventura Blvd in Sherman Oaks, CA 91423 on the second floor of the shopping mall at the corner of Ventura and Van Nuys.

Ticket prices: $18.00

Reservations by phone at (818) 442-1793